At last - a butterfly. Just the one, a Comma landed briefly on a Cotoneaster never to be seen again !!
Nothing doing on the moth front either. The light is attracting nothing but the weather is not helping at all. Just a Bee Moth found in the bathroom this afternoon - and that's the lot.
Just a single Fox Moth caterpillar crossing the road from the heath-land area across to the fields this afternoon . Narrowly missed by traffic, including a tractor. They are always an exciting find but like Hedgehogs they live precariously when on the move.
Some lovely spells of sunshine so I spent a lot of time in the garden, mostly sitting and watching the sky in the hope of an Osprey passing through ! No luck there but also watching for butterfly's, none whatsoever but mid afternoon an Orange Underwing came through the garden, right past me, then up through the trees in the park. Some really good birch woodland down there so if conditions are right this next week I'll be taking a look down there.
Hello
A brief account of the last few months.
At the end of August 2022, I became unwell. Over the next few weeks, I became worse and was very ill until mid January. Just as I was recovering, I started to feel quite ill again. I'd contracted a viral infection. After about 6 days, the effort of walking upstairs left me short of breath. I was incredibly weak and aching all over. I had to lay on the bed until I felt better. I began to improve about ten days ago. I need to build my stamina up, Other than that, I'm finally alright again. I have to say, I've felt better in my life and it messed Christmas up. Still, it takes a lot to keep me down.
Spring is here, wonderful! Yesterday, I woke to find two Angle Shades caterpillars by the door, it was a great discovery and bucked me up no end. They are only about 1 inch long, I assume they must be quite new.
Hello Edward. I wondered what had happened to you last year. (Not prying) I assumes it was you who left a comment in my October Graphics post. I did leave a reply. I'm working (slowly, see a above) on a new post. It should be online in a week or so. Keep dropping in.
Got the light on last night for a couple of hours till the drizzle set in
Had my first Orange Underwing at Cromwell Bottom today , 20 Fox Moth , 1 Ruby Tiger and 1 Oak Eggar caterpillars at Walshaw Dean and an Early Grey drowned in a puddle....
Last night in the trap...
Hebrew Character x 1
Clouded Drab x 1
Oak Beauty x 1
Oak Nycetoline x 1
Chestnut x 1
March Moth x 3
Red green Carpet x 1
Common Quaker x 5
Brindled Pug x 1
Agonopterix Arnella x 1
A second Dotted Border on 14th Feb
A fourth Pale Brindled Beauty (monochraria) on 19th Feb and still here on 22nd
Tortricodes alternella x 1 on 21st along with a single March Moth
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LUDDENDEN - February so far
It's been pretty good in Luddenden so far this February starting with the first Moth on the 3rd
3rd. Pale Brindled Beauty 1 (f monochraria)
10th Pale Bridled Beauty 2
11th Pale Brindled Beauty 2 (1 f monochraria)
Spring Usher
Dotted Border
Chestnut
Spring Usher
12th Pale Brindled Beauty 3 (1 f monochraria)
14th Pale Brindled Beauty 2
15th Pale Brindled Beauty 4
16th Pale Brindled Beauty 10 (1 f monochraria)
Spring Usher
Dotted Border
March Moth
17th Pale Brindled Beauty 7 (3 f monochraria)
Spring Usher
Usually most of my Pale Brindled Beauties are f monochraria but there has been very few this year despite having more already than my total numbers for the last 12 years.
All three Pale Brindled Beauty still there tonight with one new one on the window
Some moths, at last. Well,it's a start !
Pale Brindled Beauty x 3 tonight including the form monacharia
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Fox Moth caterpillar, just short of c 3" long, creeping along a track just off Castle Carr Road in the sunshine this afternoon. Moved it off the track into the adjacent field edge to save it getting run over or trodden on.
Still nothing at all turning up in or around the trap in Lee Mount - despite it being on most nights.
Hello all, It's been quite a while, but I'm back and hopefully actually back unlike last year.
The trap ran from 17.00 to 22.20 tonight and I've managed the first moths of the year for here :)
Moth Trap 3rd February 2023 - 17.00 to 22.20
- Pale Brindled Beauty x2 [NFY]
- Normal form x1
- f.monocharia x1
- Agonopterix heracliana x1 [NFY]
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| Pale Brindled Beauty f.monocharia, Rishworth, 03.02.2023 |
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| Pale Brindled Beauty, Rishworth, 03.02.2023 |
Just seen this free event for Thursday....
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wingtip-decoys-and-stealth-cloaks-by-marc-holderied-brad-ashby-lecture-tickets-472200272727
It might be of interest to some.
Chocolate Tip ,
Scorched Wing
Black Arches
Cloaked Pug
Silver Hook
Lesser Common Rustic (gen det)
December Moth
Box Tree Moth
Vines Rustic
Scarce Footman
Heath Rivulet
Obscure Wainscot
Scarlet Tiger
Small Mottled Willow (i thought this was a new record but have found 2 old records for this migrant)
Nothing doing yet here at all this New Year - we live in hope !
Three micros from last year (with help from CS and CF)
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2022 was again an excellent year with record temps and again more new species for Calderdale. Obscure Wainscot , Scarce Footman , Scarlet Tiger ( no one had that on there list of maybe's) , Heath Rivulet and Vines Rustic. Small Mottled Willow , Red Necked Footman , Box Moth and many more. HNY and here's to 2023....who knows what will turn up next..??????
Nothing doing at all here in December other than indoors a single Twenty-plume Moth on 4th. With the weather as it is, it's not looking hopeful for any moths just yet though I keep hoping for December Moth (don't think they like our area !)
Very mild last night but plenty of rain. This was a new one for here , well first time I've recognized this micro though it has quite a distinct shape.
